Fated

[openedthebasket]

You deserved to die.

The piece of paper was snatched out of the air before it could hit his face, leaving him pausing and frowning down at it with a sudden chill. Where could it have come from? A moment as he formed the seals to activate his Byakugan, but -- no one to be seen who could have tossed this at him. Troubling, somewhat cruel, but seeing as how he could see other papers drifting to the ground before other people...? Hardly something to be concerned about, lest this were another seal of some kind.

Still, he couldn't let it fall, running a thumb over it before letting it slip into his pocket. It hadn't been much more than another few steps when a second paper fell, snatched before it could land on his shoulder.

You deserved to die.

Comments

[openedthebasket]

His fingers stayed against her elbow for another moment before he just gently brushed his knuckles over her cheek. "I had not thought to see you here. A pleasant surprise."

[guiltoftruth]

The touches helped to ease her nerves and she nodded, taking it in before her hand rose to take his, "... Neji, we need to talk about something. Do you want to go somewhere?"

[openedthebasket]

He brushed his other hand over his kunai pouch, ensuring that paper was out of sight, before he let his fingers curl around hers. Normally he would balk at such a public display, but the warmth of her touch was far too enticing. As long as she didn't know... "Of course," he answered, tilting his head. "Wherever you would like to go, whatever you would like to say."

[guiltoftruth]

There was a pause before she squeezed his hand, a little flush before nodding at him, "Lunch, then. My treat."

[openedthebasket]

"I'm honored." He couldn't help but manage the smallest of smiles then. "Are we expecting your younger brother to join us again?"

[guiltoftruth]

"I think he's busy," She answered shortly, feeling a little more flushed at the smile before she started to pull on him and drag him towards a personal favourite restaurant of hers. Once they were seated, she took a deep breath.

"... You've never felt anything for Ino?"

[openedthebasket]

He went easily with the pull, falling into step beside her and thoroughly comfortable with the silence. He was thoroughly comfortable with the entire situation, in fact, until that.

He stiffened, eyes searching her face. "Why do you ask?"

[guiltoftruth]

She was looking away, embarrassed because she had asked but... Now that she had, there was no turning back was there? She swallowed before trying to meet his eye again, clearly nervous.

"I just... Want to know."

Not entirely the truth, but she had to find out if he'd be okay or not with... Well, whatever she had planned.

[openedthebasket]

His brow furrowed as he didn't blink, too occupied with trying to read her intent. Whatever it was, he couldn't seem to discern it. "Please do not doubt my feelings for you, Sasuke," he answered, one hand flexing into an open palm against the tabletop. "Any feelings I have for Ino are not something that will threaten the choice I have already made."

[guiltoftruth]

"That has nothing to do with that," She almost growled, catching herself and shaking her head with a sigh, "..."

It took her a moment to calm down and she tried to quell her nerves once more when she continued, "Just... If I wasn't around, would you want to be with her. As her boyfriend."

[openedthebasket]

Taken aback by the heat in her voice, his brow furrowed further, but he didn't answer immediately. If she truly wished to know, he would not lie to her.

"Perhaps," he allowed quietly, resisting the urge to look away as he kept his eyes on her face. He had never liked the word boyfriend and the casualness it implied, but... "Ino is a precious comrade of mine, whom I am honored to count among my friends." A beat.

"Why do you ask, Sasuke...?"

[guiltoftruth]

"Romantically, Neji."

[openedthebasket]

"Were you not here..." He exhaled, finally closing his eyes and bowing his head. "I... likely would, yes. I do not mean anything I say or do lightly."

He looked to her again, trying to hide his own unease. "Are you... attempting to say that you have plans to leave, with no plan to return...?"

[guiltoftruth]

"No. That's not what I'm trying to say."

The answer was completely honest, and she was able to relax a little at the answer. Good... She could do this. A deep breath and she looked at him, feeling her face getting even more heated when she asked, "And... What if you didn't have to choose."

[openedthebasket]

That dropped his jaw for a moment, lips parting as he stared at her. "I'm afraid I don't quite follow what you mean."

[guiltoftruth]

That made her even more uncomfortable, and she finally looked away from him as she mumbled, "I'm saying... Asking... What if you could have both of us."

[openedthebasket]

"That would be..." There was no missing her discomfort, and he stilled, trying to just think. "I do not think..."

He couldn't keep his eyes on her and glanced toward the floor. "Are you trying to test me, or is this something the two of you have decided upon already...?"

[guiltoftruth]

"... Second," A sigh, and she continued to mumble quietly, "If it's something you'd be okay with..."

[openedthebasket]

"I..." He flushed lightly, bringing a hand up to lightly pinch the bridge of his nose. "What about your feelings? In the scenario you propose, I would be... splitting my attention. That is not something I would wish on you."

A pause. "Unless you mean to say that you would be involved...?"

[guiltoftruth]

That time she couldn't even bring herself to speak, only nodding in response to Neji's question as she became even more red-faced.

[openedthebasket]

"And this... is something you would be interested in, even were I not to be involved...?"

[guiltoftruth]

"... I didn't look at her that way before this," Again Sasuke was mumbling, leaning forward on the table and looking over one of her own hands, "... But... I wouldn't suggest it at all if it wasn't something I wanted."

[openedthebasket]

He's obviously picking his words carefully, thinking out each one before speaking. "I... would not wish to keep you from anything that makes you happy, but... something of this nature could be complicated. There is the matter of our respective clans, which is... complex enough were it only the two of us, but..."

[guiltoftruth]

"I don't care about that."

[openedthebasket]

He closed his eyes and bowed his head again. "I... would like to speak with her about this, if possible, before I come to any kind of decision. Would you accompany me...?"